Chapter Information

The Appraisal Institute is a global association of real estate appraisers, with nearly 23,000 valuation professionals in about 60 countries throughout the world. Its mission is to advance professionalism and ethics, global standards, methodologies, and practices through the professional development of property economics worldwide. Organized in 1932, the Appraisal Institute advocates equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in the appraisal profession and conducts its activities in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Appraisal institute professionals benefit from an array of education and advocacy programs, and may hold the prestigious MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, and/or AI-RRS designations. Learn more.

The Southern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute is home to some of the appraisal profession’s leading practitioners, educators and authors since its founding in 1933. Our chapter comprises over 1,200 real estate professionals who reside of practice within our chapter’s boundaries, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. In addition to exhibiting a higher level of competence than the minimum standards required of appraisers who are solely licensed or certified, our Appraisal Institute Designated Members, Candidates for Designation, and Practicing Affiliates are committed to upholding a rigorous code of ethics.

What We Offer

The Appraisal Institute is the acknowledged worldwide leader in residential and commercial real estate appraisal education. Its extensive curriculum of courses and specialty seminars provided a well-rounded education in valuation methodology for both the novice and seasoned practitioner. As the world’s largest publisher of real estate appraisal literature, the Appraisal Institute offers a wide range of books and other materials on subjects ranging from basic valuation theory and techniques to advanced applications. It also publishes two quarterly periodicals, The Appraisal Journal and Valuation magazine.

Appraisal Institute Designated Members, Candidates for Designation, Practicing Affiliates, and Affiliates have access to a variety of benefits, including insurance programs, data resources and tools, and related business materials. The Appraisal Institute also houses the Lum Library, which provides support for the research needs of our real estate professionals as well as the profession at large. The Appraisal Institute is active in advocacy efforts on behalf of the industry at large. Primarily through its External Affairs office in Washington, D.C., the organization communicates regularly with legislators and regulators to encourage the adoption of appraisal policies that best serve the public interest.

To review the Appraisal Institute’s policy on antitrust guidance, see Antitrust Policy and Guidelines